ATing system> (Or "defunct process") A Unixprocess thAT has terminATed (either because it has been killed by a signal or because it has called exit()) and whose {parent process} has not yet received notificATion of its terminATion by executing (some form of) the wait() system call. A zombie process exists solely as a process table entry and consumes no other resources. This entry is retained to hold the child' s exit stATus until the parent process wants to retrieve it. The parent can also be notified asynchronously via a signal of the child' s terminATion. Zombie processes can be seen in "ps" listings occasionally (with a stATus "Z" in some versions). Compare orphan process. (1997-10-08)